Download LASA World Geography Status of Development Project The United

LASA World Geography
Status of Development Project
The United Nations Development Program, a leading international institution on economic development,
categorizes countries’ statuses of development using the Human Development Index (HDI)*. They use
two broad categories to describe countries as More Developed Countries (MDCs) or Less Developed
Countries (LDCs). In addition to the UNDP’s HDI, there are many indicators that one can employ in
helping determine a country’s status of development--for example, GDP and GDP per capita,
development as a normative concept (which could take into account income inequality, political freedoms,
progress, etc.), and/or other indicators such as health, diet, number of cars, number of refrigerators, level
of happiness, etc. This project requires you to choose a country and research and analyze its status of
development.
*The Human Development Index combines the three measurements of life expectancy, education, and per capita GNI.
Part 1- Statistics and Demographics Poster
The scientific study of population characteristics is called demography. For this first part of the project,
you will be looking at demographic statistics and indicators that will allow for insight into the country’s
status of development. You will need to compile a list of the following statistics for your country and create
geographs on poster board to represent the information. Most of this information can be found online
using the CIA World Factbook. Please refer to the separate handout for definitions of each of the
statistics below and how they are measured.
1. Population- (1 stick figure = 1 million people)
2. Population Pyramid - place a 2015 population pyramid for your country on the poster
3. Population growth rate (%) (1 stick figure = 1 percent)
4. birth rate (1 baby = 5 births/1000 people)
5. death rate (1 skull = 5 deaths/1000 people)
6. infant mortality rate (1 skull = 5 deaths/1000 live births)
7. life expectancy - total, male, and female (make a bar graph with total colored in green, male
colored in blue, and female colored in red)
8. total fertility rate (1 baby = 1 child born per woman)
9. physicians density ( 1 doctor symbol = 1 doctor per 1000 people)
10. literacy rate- total, male, female (make a bar graph with total colored in green, male colored in
blue, and female colored in red)
11. school life expectancy: total, male, female – (make a bar graph with total colored in green, male
colored in blue, and female colored in red)
12. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - Use the purchasing power parity(PPP)* number and write this
number on the poster.
13. GDP per capita (PPP number) (one $ symbol = $1000)
14. unemployment rate (write this number on the poster)
15. internet users- turn into a ratio (population divided by users) Write that ratio out and show the
ratio with stick figures around the computer.
16. cell phone usage- turn into a ratio (population divided by users) Write that ratio out and show
the ratio with stick figures around the cell phone.
17. arable land - make a circle graph and color the arable land percentage green
18. Human Development Index ranking (ranking compared to other countries), HDI value,
and HDI category (very high, high, medium, low). Write the ranking, HDI value, and
category on the poster.
Example: Angola - Ranking: 149 HDI value: .526 Category: Low
This can be found at http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/ Click on Table 1.
LASA World Geography
19. Economic Activities include things such as farming, ranching, manufacturing, and service-based
activity. You can find this information in the ‘Economy’ section of the CIA World Factbook for your
country. See your vocabulary notes for definitions of levels of economic activity. Use a pie graph to
note the percentage breakdown from the “labor force – by occupation” section. Also note and
handful of some of the major industries and agricultural products from the “Industries” and
“Agriculture – products” sections from CIA World Factbook. If you cannot fit this stuff on the
front of poster, put on the back.
20. Major Exports and Imports
What are your country’s major exports? List a handful of exports along with percentages that that
make up a significant portion of overall exports. What are your countries biggest imports?
Use this source to find export and import information - Atlas of Economic Complexity:
http://atlas.cid.harvard.edu/explore/tree_map/export/alb/all/show/2013/
With the exception of #18 and #20, all of the above information can be found on the CIA World Factbook
website. Some information can also be found in an atlas or other sources.
Geographs must be arranged in an organized and easy-to-read fashion on your poster board. Be
sure to label each statistic/indicator by name so they can be easily found.
Part 2- Population Pyramid Analysis
Find the population pyramids for your country for the years 2015, 2025 and 2050.
Population pyramids can be found at:
http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/informationGateway.php or google “population
pyramids” and find the U.S. Census bureau link.
When you arrive at the homepage, first scroll and select your country. Then, under “Select report”
section, choose ‘Population Pyramid Graph’. Finally, hold down the “ctrl” button to select all three years
(2015, 2025, 2050) and then hit ‘submit’ button. Print out the population pyramids as you’ll be turning
them in along with answers to questions below.
Answer the following questions (in complete sentences) about your 2015 population pyramid:
a. What type of population pyramid is it: expansive, stationary or constrictive?
b. Which age cohort makes up the bulk of the population? children? working age adults? elderly?
c. What stage of the demographic transition model do you think the country is in? How can you tell?
Explain.
d. Did your country experience a baby boom(s)? How old are the “baby boomers” now?
e. What is one interesting observation and/or strange thing about this pyramid? Explain what might be
the cause(s).
Answer the following questions using all three population pyramids:
a. By 2050 what will happen to the population of your country?
How will the age structure of the population change?
Do the pyramids become more expansive, stationary, or constrictive? Why is that?
b. What major issues will your country face over the next 40 years based on these population pyramids?
For example, population decline, population growth, replacement growth, etc.?
c. When will your country have its “goldilocks moment/demographic dividend”? If it will not have one,
why not?
LASA World Geography
Part 3 – Outline for Written Analysis. See separate handout for outline instructions and format.
PARTS 1, 2 and 3 of project are due on A – 9/28, B – 9/29. THIS PORTION OF PROJECT WILL
COUNT FOR 170 POINTS.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Part 4- Status of Development Written Analysis
You will first outline and then write a 2 - 3 page analysis paper on the status of development of the
country and the reasons why the country has the development status that it does.
You will focus on the following five categories in paper:
1. Physical geography and location - What is it about the physical geography of the country that
creates advantages or disadvantages for the people of the country? Think about climate, types of
vegetation, landforms, useful bodies of water, and natural resources. What major resources are
within your borders? What countries border yours? What is your country’s relative location to
large markets?
2. Government System - Is governance in your country a hindrance to your country’s development,
a boon to development, or somewhere in the middle? Level of corruption? What kinds of
freedoms are lacking or are present? Does the government do a good job of protecting its
citizens? Do the profits from resource extraction on your country’s territory benefit the majority of
your citizens?
Freedom House, a “non-partisan organization working to advance political and economic freedom,” has useful information
for this section at www.freedomhouse.org. Look under the “Reports” tab and select “Freedom in the World”. With the
mouse, hover over your country on the world map and click on it to pull up the country report.
3. Economic System - How do people make money? What do they spend it on? Decent
infrastructure? Does your country import more than it exports or vice versa? What percentage of
your country’s GDP is made up of remittances? Does your country experience net in-migration or
net out-migration currently?
4. History - What has happened in the country’s past that affects its current standard of living?
Colonization, revolutions, wars, stability, conquest, technological advances, etc.
5. Cultural Factors - Are there other cultural factors that affect the development status of the
country? Things to consider: religion, cultural traditions, status of women, class systems…
Your paper should be 2 - 3 pages long, double spaced, using Times New Roman size 12 point font. You
may use a variety of sources. I do not intend for you to answer each one of my guiding questions in
the above 5 sections. I simply included them to help guide your thinking and analysis. However,
do make sure to touch on each of the five sections.
The final paper is worth 80 points and will be DUE on A – 10/7, B – 10/6.
LASA World Geography
Part 5 – Parenthetical Documentation and Works Cited Page
When you quote or paraphrase someone else’s work in your paper you need to include parenthetical
documentation to cite where that information came from. See the attached form “Parenthetical
Documentation” on how to properly do this.
On a separate sheet of paper titled “Works Cited,” you must list the sources you used/cited for your paper
in MLA format. If you use the same source multiple times, you only need to include it once on the works
cited page. Sources should be alphabetized. If you need help with MLA here are two helpful websites:
easybib.com
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/
EXTRA CREDIT - Average House- 10 points
Make a colored drawing of a typical house in which a family in your country would live. This should
represent the typical, median average for your country. Type a ½ -1 page description of the house. What
is it made of? What is it like inside? How many rooms? How many people per room? Is there running
water, toilets electricity, gas, etc… In some countries it may be an apartment rather than a house.
The World Housing Encyclopedia at http://www.world-housing.net/ may be helpful for some countries. (If
you cannot find a typical house, then find any house from the country and describe it and what standard
of living a family in that house comes from). Realty websites may be helpful. Google searches may be
helpful - example search - “housing in Kenya” Format for written housing description – 12 pt. font, double
spacing, Times New Roman
LASA World Geography
Grading Rubric for Status of Development Project Parts 1 and 2
Part 1- Statistics
Geographs of 20 demographic indicators are correctly provided
Geographs of indicators are neat, organized, and easy to see and read
60 pts _____
15
_____
Part 2 - Population Pyramid Analysis
Printouts of population pyramids are provided
Questions are answered correctly in complete sentences
5
40
_____
_____
Total Possible Pts: 120 _____
Total Points Earned:
_____
Grading Rubric for Status of Development Project Part 3: Outline
Outline includes a working thesis (8 pts)
_____
Info. for Body Paragraph(s) 1 touches on advantages, disadvantages, and makes connections
to country’s status of development (7pts)
_____
Info. for Body Paragraph(s) 2 touches on Advantages, Disadvantages, and makes connections
to country’s status of development (7pts)
_____
Info. for Body Paragraph(s) 3 touches on Advantages, Disadvantages, and makes connections
to country’s status of development (7pts)
_____
Info. for Body Paragraph(s) 4 touches on Advantages, Disadvantages, and makes connections
to country’s status of development (7pts)
_____
Info. for Body Paragraph(s) 5 touches on Advantages, Disadvantages, and makes connections
to country’s status of development (7 pts)
_____
Outline includes a working conclusion (7 pts)
_____
Total Possible Points: 50
_____
Total Points Earned
_____
LASA World Geography
Grading Rubric for Status of Development Project Part 4: Final Paper (80 points)
Paper includes an introduction and thesis statement
about the country’s status of development
10pts
_____
Paper addresses the physical geography, government system, economic
system, history, and cultural factors
20
_____
Paper makes clear and logical connections between these factors and
status of development of the country
20
_____
Analysis is well organized and clearly written showing minimal errors with
grammar, sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation
15
_____
2-3 pages long, double spaced, using Times New Roman, size 12 font
5
_____
Part 5 – Parenthetical Documentation and Works Cited Page
A reasonable attempt to use parenthetical documentation was made
Works Cited page in MLA format, sources are alphabetized
7
8
_____
_____
Housing Extra Credit (10 pts)
Total Points Earned
_____
_____
LASA World Geography
Status of Development Project Outline Guide
Instructions: Use the following outline format in writing up your outline. Outline needs to be typed.
Introduction Paragraph ending with a thesis statement. (See end of this document for examples of
good thesis statements from former World Geography students).
1st Body Paragraph (s)- Physical geography/Location
Advantages Why? How do those factors impact the country’s level of development?
DisadvantagesWhy? How does it impact the country’s level of development?
2nd Body Paragraph (s)- Government Effectiveness
Positives about the governmentWhy? How does it impact the country’s level of development?
Negatives about the governmentWhy? How does it impact the country’s level of development?
3rd Body Paragraph (s) - Economic Strengths and Problems
StrengthsWhy? How does it impact the country’s level of development?
ProblemsWhy? How does it impact the country’s level of development?
4th Body Paragraph (s) - Historical Influences
Beneficial Historical Influences/EventsWhy? How does it impact the country’s level of development?
Negative Historical Influences/EventsWhy? How does it impact the country’s level of development?
LASA World Geography
5th Body Paragraph (s) - Cultural Factors
Cultural factors that encourage development Why? How does it impact the country’s level of development?
Cultural factors that hinder developmentWhy? How does it impact the country’s level of development?
Conclusion Paragraph – Wrap up your paper with a connection back to your thesis.
Keep track of your sources/parenthetical documentation as you create your outline so you will be able
to easily insert it into your paper.
Thesis examples from former World Geography students:
“The Federal Republic of __________________ is one of the world’s most highly developed nations. Its
continued prosperity is largely due to its central geographic location, effective government, and
education and economic policies. In many ways,____________’s success and high status of development
seem unlikely. At just 357,022 sq. km, about the size of Montana, it is dwarfed in physical size and
population by countries such as Russia, China, and the United States. _____________ was the loser of
two World Wars, suffering tremendous casualties, lost territory, and immense economic damage in both
conflicts. However, ______________’s geographic advantages and resurgence in the post-World War II
period in the have allowed for continued prosperity.“
“_______________ has rebuilt itself from the ashes, transforming itself from an extremely impoverished
country to a G-20 nation. Japan established a solid infrastructure during its occupation of
____________ from 1920 to 1945. After the _______________War, President for Life Chung Hee Park
then expanded on that infrastructure with generous financial aid and economic advice from the United
States. Realizing that industrialization and technology would benefit resource-poor_______________,
the country’s ensuing government, business, and financial leaders have since worked together to create
a highly-developed, progressive nation that has retained much of its culture while morphing rapidly to
outstrip other developing nations both economically and politically.”
“It is commonly understood that most Sub-Saharan African countries are not very economically or
politically stable. One country that breaks this mold is _______________. After gaining independence
from Britain is 1966, ____________ has maintained one of the world’s highest economic growth rates.
The country has had political and economic struggles since then, but overall the status of
______________ is positive, and only increasing in quality. If _____________ maintains this level of
development, it could very well become one the most powerful countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
LASA World Geography
“The country of _________________ lacks enough health care for the population, freedom for the
people, and advanced machinery to increase industrial productivity. _________________is currently a
developing country which is presently taking action to improve infrastructure and the economy—which
will hopefully help in increasing the country’s development status.”
“According to the Human Development Index, _____________ is the 12th most developed country in the
world and categorized as “very high” in human development. _______________ is ranked this high due
to its favorable physical geography, stable government, solid economy, fairly stable history, and a
culture of solidarity.”
“The country of _______________, as of 2014, currently remains on the Human Developments Index’s
list of least developed countries (LDCs). ________________ is an underdeveloped nation in the
Southeast Asian region due to its lack of urbanization, governmental constraints, poor geographic
location, economic stagnation, and lack of infrastructure.”
“__________________, a country located in the Middle East, ranks as one of the least developed
countries in the world. Many factors have contributed to its underdevelopment, including its history, its
culture, its poor geographic assets, and its economic and governmental dysfunction.”